Slip-cover for motor-vehicle tops



L.K.SNELL v SLIP COVER FOR MOTOR VEHICLE TOPS.

' APPLICATION FILED MAR. 2,191]. 1,381,141

INVENTOR, LYLE K. tin/(3M,

' ATTQRNEY Patented June 14, 1921.

an unsightly appearance.

IPANY, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN LYLE K. SNELL, or DETROIT, MICHIGAN", ASSIGNOR 'ro CADILLAC MOTOR GAR GOM- A CORPORATION OF MICHIGAN.

SLIP-COVER FOR MOTOR-VEHICLE TOPS.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patgnt d J 14 192 Application filed March 2, 1917. Serial No. 151,887.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LYLE K. SNELL, a citizen of the United States,and resident of Detroit, Wayne county, State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Slip-Covers for Motor- Vehicle Tops, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to slip covers and motor vehicle tops and particularly to improved means for inclosing and protecting vehicle canopy tops when in collapsed position.

The envelops or dust hoods, which have been generally provided for inolosing vehicle canopy tops when in collapsed-position, have been of two general forms.

In one form the cover has been made sufficiently large to permit slipping it on, and

off, the top'comparatively easy, but such a cover, because of its loose fit, has presented "The other form of cover, generally used, has been provided with seams adapted to be opened to permit the cover to be slipped into position on the top. 'Suitable fasteners have been provided for closing the seams after the cover has been arranged in position. With this form of cover it has been found extremely difficult to draw its various portions together for fastening after the cover has been arranged in position. The

latter operation is especially diflicult, in the event that the cover material has been shrunk, or if its folds are notarranged as intended, the result is that the open seam type of cover is frequently torn or muticover, having non-detachable or non-sepa-; rable seams, with means for taking up the.

fullness thereof for forming a tight fit on the top.

Another object is to generally improve the construction, ,fit, and appearance of covers for vehicle canopy tops.

These,and other objects will more clcarl appear from the following description taken n connection with the accompanying drawings which form a part of this specification and in which I Figure 1, illustrates aside elevation of the rear portion of a motor vehicle embody ing a form of my invention; Fig. 2, is a plan view of the illustrated in Fig. 1; 1

Fig. 3, is a transverse vertical section substantially on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2; v Fig. 1, is a horizontal section substantially on the line 4+4, of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5, is a perspective view of the top cover illustrated in the other figures; and

Fig. 6, is a view similar to Fig. 3, of a modified form of cover fastener.

Referring to the drawings, 10illustrates construction,

a motor vehicle body on which may be suitably arranged at opposite sides thereof,"a pair of supporting brackets 11. The bows, 12, of a canopy top, which is illustrated in a collapsed position, are adapted to be pivotally connected as at13, on the supporting brackets 11. v 1

It will be noted that the top 14 presents a wedge shaped apearance when collapsed, tapering from its rear end toward the brackets 11, which are arranged at the front end thereof.

The flexible cover 15, which is preferably fashioned of leather or fabric, is adapted to be slipped over and inclose the top 14:, and comprises an envelop or hood' 16, formed of a band portion 17, adapted to extend across therear of the top andalso along its side portions; end portions 36 and 37 are arranged across the top and bottom of the top and are permanentlyv attached along three of their respective edges, that is, the back and sides, to the intermediate or band portion 17. e a

It will be understood that the width of the top and bottom portions 36 and37of the cover will be considerably greater than the width of the top, thus permitting these vices,'with theresultthat the entire cover provided for taking the fullness out of the top and bottom portions of the cover and thus presenting a cover which fits snugly on the top after it has been easily slipped into position.

This means may be in the form of straps 20, suitably secured, as by. rivets 21, adjacent the outer edges 22, of the top and bottom portions 36 and 37 of the cover. Each of the straps is adapted to be passed around one of the bows 12, and to have its free end adjustably secured to a fastener in the form of a-buckle 23,which may also be secured to a portion 36 or 37 of the cover as by the rivets 21. g

It will be noted that with this arrangement the material adjacent the outer edges of the portions 36 and 87 is readily gathered toward the band portion 17. The forward ends of the side portions 18 may be drawn and secured in positionby suitable means such as 61311113825, each of which may be riveteduas at 26, to the side portions; the free portion of. these strapsmay be passed 'through a loop 27, suitably formed on the brackets 11, and their end adjustably secured as by buckles 28, which are also shown as fastened to the side portions as by rivets 29. 1

Referring particularly to Fig. 6, it will be noted that instead of providing a pair of fastening devices at eachside of the cover for independently taking up the fullness of the top and bottoms of the cover, a single fastening device may be provided. 'lhis devlce 1s 1n a form of a single strap 31, which may be suitably secured adjacent one edge of the top portion 17 as by rivets 30, and

to be passed over all of the bows of the top and to haveitsfree end adjustably secured to a buckle which may be riveted or otherwise fastened to the bottom portion 18, of the cover. It will be understood, of course,

- that one of these fasteners will be arranged at each side of the cover.

With the improved cover, its envelop portion may be drawn snugly and securely in position over the top to completely cover it without opening any scams or joints between the top and bottom portions and the band portion, or breaking jo nts of any kind; and

proper. means are provided for taking up any fullness inthe cover by gathering deof the cover and yet firmly binding it on the top in an adequate manner.

comprising a band fittingt While I have described and will specifically claim what I deem to be a preferred embodiment of my invention, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art, that various modifications and changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope thereof.

Having thus described my invention, what Iclaim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. A slip cover for vehicle tops or the like comprising a band forming an end and side portions, top and bottom portions secured entirely around three side edges thereof to said band and each ofwhich top and bottom portions is formed full along its free edge, and means for gathering the fullness of said top and bottom portions toward said band at the sides adjacent the free edges .thereof whereby said band portion maybe regularly arranged therearound. r

2. The combination, with a vehicle top having a plurality of bows adapted to collapseinto folded position of substantially wedge shape, of a slip cover comprising a band fitting the back and sides of said wedge shaped top, top and bottom portions secured along three edges of each to said band and flared to provide a fullness along their remaining free edges, and straps secured to both said top and bottom portions and adapted to extend about said bows'whereby said band portion may be evenly spaced with reference to said top and bottom portions. 1 Y 1 3. The combination, with a vehicle top having a plurality of bows and supports whereby said bows are pivotally supported, adapted to collapse into folded position of substantially wedge shape of a slip cover he back and sides of said wedge shaped top, top and bottom portions secured along three edges of each to said band and flared to provide a fullness along their remaining free edges whereby said band may be adjusted in relation to said top, straps secured to both said top and bottom portions adjacent said band and adapted to extend about said bows'and straps secured adjacent the extremities of said band whereby said extremities may be secured to said bow supports. V

4;. A slip cover for vehicle tops orthe like, comprising top and bottom'pieces both of which are flared to a fullness at one edge; a band piece secured to said top and bottom portions along the remaining three edges and adjustable to positionindependently of said top and bottom pieces and extending therebeyond and straps secured to the flared edges of-said top and bottom pieces adjacent the free edges thereof andreinforcing the same andterminating in tab ends having buckle connections.

5. A slip cover for'vehicle tops or the like,

comprising top and bottom portions both of which are flared to a fullness along one face edge; a band piece secured to said top and bottom portions along the remaining three edges and extending therebeyond, straps secured to the flared free edges of both of said top and bottom portions and terminating in buckled loops adjacent said band, and straps secured to said band and terminating in buckled loops adjacent the extremities there of whereby said band may be adjusted in relation to said top and bottom portions.

6. A slip cover for vehicle tops or the like comprising top and bottom portions flared to a fullness along one free edge, a band piece secured to said top and bottom portions along the remaining three edges and extending therebeyond, and having orifices there through adjacent the extremities, straps secured to the flared free edges of both of said top and bottom pieces and terminating in buckled loops adjacent said band, and straps secured to free ends of said band and terminating in buckled loops extending through said orifices in said band.

7. In combination a vehicle body having side brackets, a top comprising a plurality of bows having side supports pivotally secured to said brackets and collapsible into substantially wedge shape, a slip cover enveloping said top and comprising top and bottom pieces both of which are flared to a fullness along one free edge and which top and bottom pieces are fastened to a band piece around their remaining three edges, said band piece extending beyond said top and bottom portions and along the side supports of said top, means for drawing the flared edges of the top and bottom pieces of said cover taut over said top, and means for drawing the extremities of said band portion taut to said brackets.

8. In combination a vehicle body having side brackets, each formed with a loop, a top comprising a plurality of bows having side supports p-ivotally secured to said brackets and collapsible into substantially wedge shape, a slip cover enveloping said top and comprising top and bottom pieces flared to provide a fullness along one free edge of each, and which top and bottom pieces are fastened to a band piece around the remaining three edges, said band piece extending beyond said top and bottom pieces and along the side supports of said top, means for drawing the flared edges of the top and bottom pieces of said cover taut over said top, and straps secured adjacent the extremities of said band and extending through the loops on said brackets.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

LYLE K. SNELL. 

